Automatic string sewing-machine feed for tampons and the like



July 19, 1949- J. R. M LAUGHLIN AUTOMATIC STRING SEWING MACHINE FEED FOR TAMPONS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. .23, 1942 INVENTOR.

, JOHN R. MC L.AUGHLIN. BY

ATTORNEY.

July 19, 1949. J R. MOLAUGHLIN 2,476,752

AUTOMATIC STRING SEWING MACHINE FEED FOR TAMPONS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 23, 1942 INVENTOR.

JOHN R. MCUGHLIN.

- 7 ATTORNEY.

J. R. M LAUGHLIN AUTOMATIC STRING SEWING MACHINE FEED FOR TAMPONS AND THE LIKE July 19, 1949.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 23, 1942 INVENTOR.

JOHN R. MCLA GHLIN.

I M7 I ATTORNEY.

Patented July 19, 1949 AUTOMATIG STRING SEWING-MACHINE FEED FORTAMPONS AND THE LIKE John R. .McLaughl-in, New Brunswick, N. J., as-- signor, by .mesne assignments, .to 'Tampax Incorporated, NewLYork, N. Y.,"a corporation of Delaware Application October 23, 1942, Serial him-453,096

(Cl.V112--2'03.)

12-Glaimsr 1 This invention relates .to feeding devices and more particularly to automatic string sewing machine 'feeds for absorbent cotton :pads or the like, preferably though not -essentially, usedJinthe production of catamenialdevices, although it may be employed with equal :advantage for other purposes.

Iteonternplates more-'especiallythe feeding of preformed wads or-"pads of absorbent cotton or other material "cut into-elongated .units, to a sewingmachine for stitching longitudinally therealongrand in successive spaced relation with continuous "series of string connected Sheets of like size and construction, for thereafter automatically segregatin a continuous strip into in dividualstrips having a stringtail' attached thereto preparatory to the formation "of highly compressed, self-sustaining and form-retaining wads of absorbent cotton serving as internal catamenial devices.

:Prior to being compressed, and when leaving the sewing machine the cotton or other material has been cut .into elongated pieces with the fibers disposed transversely, and these pieces have been stitched longitudinally in spaced relation to each other with a connecting string between them. Upon leaving thesewing-machine, and prior to being operated'upon by a compressing and forming apparatusthe attached pieces in the form of a continuous strip are 'passed throughdevices which are adapted .to sever the string close to and-end of each piece, thus leaving a .tail attached to eachpiec'e. The present apparatus is designed for the purpose of accurately and'efie'ctively perzformi'ng thissevering operation.

One object of "the present invention is to simplify-the construction andrimprovethe operation -01 devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide improved. "feeding means having a successive series of sheets of material that are sewed together in uniformly spaced relation for severanceinto combined strips having connected strings extendingtherefrom.

Still another object is to provide improved teeding and cutting :means in conjunction with a sewing device for automatically vforming individual strips of material .having a manipulating string connectedthereto.

A further object isto provide improved feeding,

cutting, and dischargingrmeans .operatinginautomatic aimed-relation in the production of highly compressed self-sustaining and "form-retaining c'atamenial devices of the tampon A still further object is to provide improved feeding, cutting-anddischarginginstrumentalities operated in conjunction with a, sewing machine for feeding wads of string connected units to a processing machine .in timed relation with the operating instrumentalities thereof.

Stillflasfurther.v object is to provide combined feeding, sewing, cutting and compressing instrumentalities toconvertstripsof material such as cotton into highly compressed, self-sustaining, form-retaining tampons.

-Other..oloje.cts.and advantages willappear from the rvfollowingsdescription .of an illustratedembodiment .of the presentlinvention.

. .In the drawings:

-Figure .1 is aside .view "in elevation of instrumentalitiesembodying .ifeatures of the present invention.

- Figure 2,isa fragmentary sectional view -.of the sewing machineieederelement.

--.r 'lig-ure 1.3 is .a fragmentary side view in relevati-onrof .the compressor actuator cam that controlsthe operation and feedinginstrumentalities. Figure-41s .a fragmentarylsectional view :taken substantially alongrline -.IV-sIV of Figure. 3.

: vEigu rer5sis a .diagrammaticalplan view showing successive strips :of acottonrhavin stitched connecting- .strings thereloetween after leaving the sewing and severing instrumentalities.

' Figure-6 :is a top plan view-of :themuttingand discharging .instrumentalitiessshown in :Figure 1 together with thesfeeding and compressing elements coordinated therewith.

@Eigure 7 is:.a-:side view in elevation :partly in section substantially on line VII-VII of- Figure- 6. Figure 8 is -.a fragmentary-plan view -of the feeding sandcuttingzinstrumentalities vvieweclsubstantiall-y along line NHL-VIII of Figure 1.

.Figure- 9 .isa fragmentary side view in elevation of theainstrumentalitiesshowninfiigure -8.

Eigure is a -side view in :elevation of the frame plate for the lieeding rmechanismishown in lflig-ures-tsand 9.

Figure 11 .is a sectional view takensubstantially along line xl xLofiligure 10.

- figure-121sv a-sectional viewstakenl substantially along. .line JHIwXII of Figure 8. 1 Figure :13 .is raflplan view of a completed tampon with Kits .atta ched string.

The structure selected for illustration is not intendedto serveaslalimitationupon thescopeor teachings of the present invention, .but is merely illustrative..thereof.. There maybe considerable variations and adaptations of yall er -part of the teachings-depending upon "the di'ctatesof commercialpractice; .The presentenibodiment comprises instrumentalities ior ,feeding, .convoluting,

and compressing the cotton strips into a tampon or plug that is self-sustaining and form-retaining of the type more specifically described and illustrated in applicant's copending application, serially numbered 68,975, filed January 3, 1949, now abandoned, which, in this instance, consti tutes the finishing instrumentalities for the strips that are fed thereto.

Generally, the compressing instrumentalities comprise a frame 16 mounted on the standard I 1 (Figure 1) that supports a main shaft l2 which in turn supports a plurality of actuators including a cam 13 that rotates therewith. The cam l3, in this instance, has low and high sides 4-15 which form an irregular camming periphery that coacts with a circular cam follower Hi. The circular cam follower I6 is rotatively mounted on a pin I! carried by a lever l8. A ball bearing I9 is interposed between the cam follower l6 and the pin IT to insure the rotation thereof with minimum friction. The lever I8 is pivoted at the lower extremity thereof to a pintle 26 fixed to the frame standard H somewhat below and laterally offset from the main shaft l2. The cam l3 continuously rotates to oscillate the lever l8 against a spring 2| that has one extremity anchored to the frame 50 as at 22 while the other extremity is attached to the lever H! as at 23 proximate to the upper extremity thereof.

With this arrangement, the spring 2| normally maintains the cam follower l6in frictional contact with the periphery i4-i5 of the cam l3. The lever I8 has a flexible tension transmitting member such as achain or string 24 connected to the upper extremity thereof as at 25 to engage a pulley 26 journalled on a stub shaft 21 that is fixed to the head 28 of a power sewing machine 29 of standard or suitable construction. The sewing machine 29 has the usual presser foot 30 with a reciprocally mounted needle 3| cooperating therewith for up and down movement responsive to the power source (not shown). The chain or string 24 has its other extremity fixed to the forward end 32 of the feeding frame 33 that comprises side plates 34-35 carrying a forward transverse stub shaft 36 therebetween. The stub shaft 36 is fixed between the forward ends of the confronting plates 34-35 by means of threaded fasteners 31-38 that project downwardly through the edge of the side plates 34-35 to engage the shaft 36.

Another shaft 39 is journalled in brackets 40-4! fixed to a bottom frame plate 42 proximate to the rearward edge thereof to carry a double grooved idler pulley 43 between the side plates 34-35 in confronting relation with a corresponding pulley 44 journalled on the stub shaft 35. Aligned spaced annular grooves 45-46 and 41-48 are provided in the pulleys 43-44 to carry endless belts 49-56 therebetween. The belts 49-50 are preferably though not essentially of rubber or other suitable material, and the tension thereof is suitably controlled through idler rollers 51-52 journalled on stub shafts 53-54 projecting inwardly from the confronting side plates 34-35 to carry the idler rollers 5I-52 in the path of the belts 49-56 along their lower path of travel.

With this arrangement, the side plates 34-35 with their supporting pulleys 43-44 are pivoted relative to the shaft 39 for downward clockwise and upward counter-clockwise oscillatory movement (viewed from Figure l) responsive to the chain or string 24 thatis operated by the lever [8. The lever I8 is, in turn, operated by the cam on the frame plate 42 by an attendant or operator (Figure 1). In this position, there will be no feeding of the wads 56 beneath the presser foot 30 of the sewing machine 29 that continuously operates to form a twisted string 55 between the wads 56. The lowering of the frame plates 34-35 places the endless belts 49-56 in frictional contact with the wads 56 (Figure 2) placed in the path thereof by the attendant for feeding underneath the sewing machine shoe 30.

As a result, the twisted string 55 is sewed entirely through the absorbent cotton wads 56 to provide a twisted length 51 that is stitched to the transverse fibers 58 constituting the body thereof. The string 55 is produced by a lock stitch type of sewing machine 29 during the operation thereof between and while there are no cotton wads 56 in the machine 29 or under its needle 3|. The cotton wads 56 are fed to the sewing machine 29 at substantially uniform intervals to provide a stitched portion 51 sewed through and along a longitudinal median line of the wads 561 The raising and lowering of the frame plates 34-35 is controlled by the cam I3 in timed relation with the feeding, convoluting, and compressing instrumentalities provided on the frame in so that the wads 56 are uniformly spaced with the corresponding lengths of thread 55 disposed therebetween and stitched length 51 extending entirely through the wads 56 as a continuous twisted string formed by the sewing machine 29.

These successive and uniformly spaced wads 56 with their connecting strings 55 are thus fed into cutting instrumentalities to be hereinafter described for the purpose of severing each string 55 at the point of juncture 59 with the successive wad 56.

The cutting instrumentalities comprise, in this instance, a horizontal base A, having feet B, and provided with spaced parallel plates C, C, arising vertically from said base to provide mountings and bearings for the instrumentalities of the apparatus. A lateral extension A8 projects to one side of the feed or front end of the base A, upon which extension a suitable speed-reducer D is mounted and driven by a shaft E receiving motion from a driving pulley E that is actuated from any suitable source. A transmission shaft E2 is connected by a clutch device E3 to the main shaft 66 of the apparatus that is mounted in the vertical plates C, C.

Suitable vertically disposed guide plate 6|, that are flared away from each other at their outer ends, extend longitudinally between the vertical plates C, C from the front towards the rear of the structure for the purpose of guiding and preventing lateral displacement of the articles or strip of material that moves through the machine, and a conveyor belt 62 receives the articles after they have been operated upon between the guides 6| and conveys the separated articles away from the apparatus. The conveyor belt 62 travels upon an inclined bed 63 secured to upwardly extending arms 64 that are preferably removably connected to the discharge end of the apparatus, and said conveyor belt 62 passes around a pulley 65 at the lower end of the bed 63, that has its any-a m spin'iire 6'6; which 5o" nailed in said arms $4, provided with "an extended end carryin'g a sprocket 61 that is driven by a chain 68. The 'main shait fio is provided --with'a; i sprocket "69 that is 'engagedwith a ch'a'in Hi exten'din'g towa'rlisthe discharge or rear end of theapparatils where said chain'iu engagesanotherxsprocket 'TI on the adjacent end of a jack-shaft 121journailed in th'e vertical plates C, C 'through th'e ine'dinm ota' sprocket 13 upon the -?other end *of said jack shaft 1'2 andr-is'also engaged with "the chain 68, wherehy'the apron engag-ed pulley =65 is actuated at 'slibstantially the "s ame speed *as the pulley 7"4' that 'is secured "to the jack-shaft '12 :be tween thevertical plates "C, 'C'. l

The apron "bed 63 :andsupportin'g arms 2 B4 ma be an independent structure that is *detac'hably connected to the delivery or :rear "end of :the apparatus 'as'detailedin Figure 1. The-'lower en'ds ="o'f saidar'ms "6d "are provided with downwardly opening-slots "64" thatembrace adj acent "portions 'of 'thepul'ley spindle 12 which "permits the "stru cture fibei-n'g lifted ofi the-una'chine. Theintermediate portions of the arms 64 have supports 64' movahly =connect'ed to'them bypivot members 64 "Aboutmidway :the" 1'ength of the vertical plates '0, 0'' there is a "smallipulley 1'5 about-Which a conveyor belt "Hi i's' engage'd and which is driven by the zpulley l'don a spindle 12 that extends "between the'vertic'al plates C, C and isj'ournailed-therein for rotation. Said conveyor belt #6 is 'disposed with its'r upper reach in za suibstan- *tially horizontal plane as shown in Figure '7, and there 'isa' smallidler-pulley :1 engaged with the under surface of the conveyor belt "16 :inter- 'mediatethe pulleys M and th'eipnrpose of which will be'laterexplained. Pulleys l5'and 71 :have their respective spindles, T8 and'TQ, suitably :jonmalled 1h adjacent portions of the vertical 'Atension :pullejvBB, with its spindle 8 Sjo'ur- =nal1ed in "swinging "arms 82, is "adapted to main- --ta in the apron 18 tarut 'and 'take up anyslack therein. The arms '62 are pivotallyimdunted at 'their-lovver ends o'n studs 'BStprOjeGting from the'vertical ipl'ates C, *C', and they'are pulled in the desired direction byeoiled springs 84, '84; that have their ends suitably connected to said anms and. to lateral pins 85, iii-projecting =from"the inner faces of the vertical platesiC, as shown in Figure '7. Presser Irollerstfi, 85, are mounted above-and in contact with-the top Tea-oh *or run of the "conveyor belt l6 s'o 'thait 'th'ey will normally rbear'dow-n uponthe conveyor belt "'56. The trunniohs 8:1, 8'! (if these presser roll-- $35, 86, rotate freely in upwardly open vertieal' slots 5 '86" provided in angle p1atest6, 3'5" seemed "to the Upper "edges of the vertical pla tes "C, C and said rollers "86, 55, are prefer which the rollers 86,86, will eachreturnto'their apron-Contacting positions as shown in the hill lines in said figure. V

The wads 'of cot'ton 5B"are elongated and are "provided 'with longitudinal stitching El'fand "said *iva'ds are-spaced apart suitable distances "endure,

whenflaei red linto trreinnaehina iioined' by a $5 ichisi ateontmixat'ronnf'etheestitohan adapted itolbe 1 severed as shown "in :Figu e dii-ring (through the :machine. -56 :an'd rthe strings ifi5"provi'de awcoh- 'tinnous s'tifip iif materiamvhenrred into the *apparatus. .:-At the itront' end inf;- thennacnine there is a "cor'rngateill. feeei roller QB-Ithat is fast on t-he holiizontalfinanm shaft that-has its iendsropp'osite :the spmoket 69 -?provided wit'h a gear 9 l 'Coaetin'g r ith this -ieedirolier *is an opposing "preSs'eri oHer 'M't'thaithas fits spindle -93- carried in-" the ifre'e orrsw'irrgingiend's of eiongateduleverarms 94 (se' t9 thatiin c1ine downward toWardY-tlIeroppOSite end of the machine where their rear endsare 'secured to the :spindle -1-8 -u3pon wriieh *fth'e conveym pdlley 15 is-loo'sely mountedfforirota tion. Said-spindle :18 performs the ifundtion of :"a' rock shaft for actuating certain pmtions "fo f' the maehine that-:control the timed "operation oftheicutten as later-explained. The :presser-roller .112 i iyieldably \urgedtowards the corrngated"ieed'iroller 90 by "means of -icol1ed springs *95f thateare ic'omrected at theirmpper ends to-"theepmjecting portions ofr a "spindle :93 and at their' lower end i'are engaged with :lateral :p'ins 56, "96 on *the -verticai plates-c, -C'.

A horizontal shaft in is .journalled in bearings in the vertical plates 0, C, with "its end iportions proiected beyondsaid plates inthem'an- 'ner showniin f'igure nidth'e intermediate :po'rtim of said shaft 9 1. has a ir'ol'ler :98 anchored to it itor: rotation therewith. This roller '98 is donatedbetween the corrugated-feed rolier -9lJ and the'fconveyor pulley '15 so =that the upper surface 0T- said fro'iler 8 is disposed infsubstanera-11y: the Horizontal rilane 'o'f the-*upper reach or rn-n of the qroiweyor "It; Above and in verti- 'ca l linement withthe axis of the =ro1-ler 98, --there a' rotatable severing'or 'izut-ting device which embodies 'a mutilated :nyI-inder -99 secured to a rotatable shaft I00 that is journalled in the yertioahplsates C, C'-. This icylindr-ica'l memher ita -has afifialttened lportion Hll :a-nd :it is also provided wi th :an angular igroove or 'notoh +0 2 which provides' a 'seat in which'a blade W3 is secured by an adiustable clamping :plate 404 so-that th'e sharpenediedgewof'said iolade :projeets --heydnd the circumferential surfacemfsaidicylindricail member 99 in the-manner sshown in Figurefl so 'that it will name dnto :contactive engage- 'qnient' with the holler 98 when thes'e portions of the machine are ii'n' operation.

T ne-movement of theoutting eylinder 99 is timed 'so thalt thlef hletde 1:03 Will contact and sever" the connec ngistring 55between the wads of cotton 56 afta:ilo'c'ai'ti'cin til'ose to thettailing edge of eaeh' w ad as shown in Figure -5.' The shafts an-ii F00 have gears lflfi -and ille re- "speotively 'that are 'secured to their eXten'ded "ends "and which are mesh with eah other "so -tha t--they wiil be rdtated in opposite directions and at the same speedi' The roll'er 98 and the critter member 99 =are preferably adapted to he"interm-i-ttently rotated fonea'ch severing or cutting -'operati'on 'berforrn'ed "by the 'blade H13, and ivhen -thvwad 5'15 is b'etween "the-roller 98 "and the"curveclsurface o'f'cutter member 99 "said wad 55 will (be "in a 'compressed condition the to the fact that-the 'spaeeibetween the surfaces of these'elements is preferably-lessthan the thickness of *wad "56.

*i rlthough-nthe advaneinggor'ieed rollers 90 52 am1-"tl're cutter device's 91 99;when*opreraiting,

travel at the same number of revolutions per minute, the larger diameters of the cutter rollers 9I99 give them a higher peripheral speed than the feed rollers 9I'I92. This has the effect that when the cutting action takes place the part being cut is given tension by the higher surface speed of said cutter rollers. The drive of the conveyor I6 is so arranged that the lineal speed thereof is greater than the surface speed of the cutter-rollers 91-99. As the material passes beneath the roller 86, the friction of the material against the conveyor 16 will keep the material under tension, while the cutting action is taking place, to enable the blade I93 to sever the string completely and cleanly.

It should be noted that the operation of the compressor I9, responsive to the rotation of the main shaft l2, gives positive and timed rotation to the cam I3 that uniformly spaces the sewed wads 55 that are connected by the intervenin twisted strin 55. This relieves the attendant or operator of all manual feeding or guiding action on the wads 56, since the positive lowering and raising of the feeding belts 49-50 automatically spaces the wads or cotton strips 56 and gives uniform string lengths 51 as well as straight sewing. Additionally, it allows the sewing machine 29 to be mechanically tied in with the tampon compressor so as to operate as a coordinated unit.

The cam I3 is so set on the compressor I 0 that the cotton strips or wads 56 after going through the sewing machine 29 arrives at the feeding wheels I91 when these are up or in their inoperative position. The compressor is more fully illustrated and described in my copending application, serially numbered 463,092, filed October 23, 1942. So that the needle 3I of the sewing machine 29 can be readily threaded, the carriage sides 34-45 are slotted at the rearward edges as at I08 so that by removing the rubber belts 4950 the whole carriag can be removed.

It should be noted that the conveyor belt 62 moves over a roller I09 which is journalled at the extreme end of the upwardly extending arms 64 comprising a part of its frame to support the endless conveyor belt 62 for movement thereabove and therebelow to transfer the sewed tampon wads 56 to the feed table IIEI of the compressor II]. The compressor I0 converts the sewed wads 56 into compressed tampons 56' of cylindrical configuration having an extending tail 55 projecting therefrom. A gear H8 is mounted on the shaft 91, and meshes through an idler gear IIS to gear 9l mounted on shaft 60. The gear 9I meshes with a gear I20 fixed to the sprocket I2I for journalled rotation in a bushing I22. The bushing I22 together with the two gears I20I2I are rotated in a fixed shaft I23 mounted in a bracket I24 fixed to the side C. A chain I25 extends between the sprocket I2I and a sprocket I26 fixed to shaft 39 which drives the feeder belts 4950.

This completes the conversion of rectangular sheets of absorbent cotton or wads 56, its initial shape and configuration, to a completed tampon without manual intervention from the step of their placement under the feeding belts 49-50.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present embodiment or preferred form, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with fixed means defining a predetermined stationary path, of moving means confronting said predetermined path of travel, means for raising and lowering said moving means relative to said path of travel to advance fiat strips of material along the predetermined path in uniformly spaced relation, and means in the path for receiving said strips in corresponding uniformly spaced and timed relation.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with fixed means defining a predetermined stationary path, of endless belt moving means pivotally confronting a predetermined stationary path of travel, means for pivotally raising and lowering said moving means relative to said path of travel to advance fiat strips of material along the predetermined path in substantially uniformly spaced relation, and means in the path for receiving said strips in corresponding uniformly spaced relation.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with fixed means defining a predetermined stationary path, of moving means confronting said predetermined stationary path of travel, means for raising and lowering said moving means relative to said path of travel to advance flat strips of material along the predetermined path, and stitching means in the path for receivin said strips in uniformly spaced relation to form a continuous string interconnected strip.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with fixed means defining a predetermined stationary path, of moving means confronting said predetermined stationary path of travel, means for raising and lowering said moving means relative to said path of travel to advance fiat strips of material along the predetermined path, stitching means in the path for receiving said strips in uniformly spaced relation to form a continuous strin interconnected strip, and severing means for segregating said stitched strips into separate articles with a stitched string length thereon.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with fixed means defining a predetermined stationary path, of moving means confronting said predetermined stationary path of travel, means for raising and lowering said moving means relative to said path of travel to advance fiat strips of material along the predetermined path, stitching means in the path for receiving said strips in uniformly spaced relation to form a continuous string interconnected strip, severing means for segregating said stitched strips into separate articles with a stitched string length thereon, and means for receiving said separate articles from said severing means.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with fixed means defining a predetermined stationary path, of moving means confronting said predetermined stationary path of travel, means for raising and lowering said moving means relative to said path of travel to advance fiat strips of material along the predetermined path, stitching means in the path for receiving said strips in uniformly spaced relation to form a continuous string interconnected strip, severing means for segregating said stitched strips into separate articles with a stitched string length thereon, and compressing means for receiving said separate articles from said severing means.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with fixed means defining a predetermined stationary path, of moving means confronting said predetermined stationary path of travel, means for raising and lowering sai moving means relative to said path of travel to advance fiat strips of material along the predetermined path, stitching means in the path for receiving said strips in uniformly spaced relation to form a continuous strin interconnected strip, severing means for segregating said stitched strips into separate articles with a stitched string length thereon, means for receiving said separate articles from said severing means, compressing means in said path, and conveying means interposed between said severing and compressing means.

8. In a feeding device, the combination with a frame, of fixed means on said frame for defining a predetermined stationary path, continuously moving surface means on said frame in confronting relation with said predetermined stationary path of travel, and means for periodically raising and lowering said surface means relative to said predetermined path of travel with articles disposed therebetween for feeding along said path of travel responsive to said continuously moving surface means in its lower operative position.

9. In a feeding device, the combination with a frame, of fixed means on said frame for defining a predetermined stationary path, continuously moving endless surface means on said frame in confronting relation with said predetermined stationary path of travel, a pivotal support for said frame, and means for pivotally raising and lower ing said surface means relative to said predetermined path of travel with articles disposed. u

therebetween for feeding along said path of travel responsive to said continuously moving surface means in its lower operative position.

10. In a feeding device, the combination with a frame, of fixed means on said frame for defining a predetermined stationary path, continuously moving pair of spaced endless belt surface means on said frame in confronting relation with said predetermined stationary path of travel, a pivotal support for said frame, and means for pivotally raising and lowering said surface means relative to said predetermined path of travel with articles disposed therebetween for feeding along said path of travel responsive to said continuously moving surface means in its lower operative position.

1. In a feeding device, the combination with a frame, of fixed means on said frame for defining a predetermined stationary path, continuously moving spaced endless belt surface means on said frame in confronting relation with said predetermined stationary path of travel, and means for periodically raising and lowering said surface means relative to said predetermined path of travel with articles disposed therebetween for feeding along said path of travel responsive to said continuously moving surface means in its lower operative position. I

12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with fixed means defining a predetermined stationary path, of endless moving means including spaced belts confronting said predetermined stationary path of travel, means for raising and lowering said moving means at predetermined intervals relative to said path of travel to advance fiat strips of material alon the predetermined path in uniformly spaced relation, and means in the path for receiving said strips in corresponding uniformly spaced relation.

JOHN R. McLAUGI-ILIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenices are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 623,411 Millhiser et a1 Apr. 18, 1899 1,376,623 Hughes May 3, 1921 1,688,268 Dalton Oct, 16, 1928 2,045,363 Mitchell June 23, 1936 2,069,776 Rohland Feb. 9, 1937 2,095,647 Mann Oct. 12, 1937 2,164,501 Cundall July 4, 1939 2,244,691 Haberstump June 10, 1941 2,274,622 West Feb. 24, 1942 

